Graves at historic cemetery vandalised

Graves and tombstones in a historic cemetery in Wexford town are being desecrated by groups of youths holding outdoor drinking…

Graves and tombstones in a historic cemetery in Wexford town are being desecrated by groups of youths holding outdoor drinking parties there on an almost nightly basis.

The situation is so bad at Selskar Abbey graveyard that there are now more graves and tombstones destroyed than there are left intact.

The tomb of the three Franklin brothers, Thomas, George and Percy, who were buried as children in the graveyards in the 1860s, has been vandalised.

Another grave of historical importance that has been vandalised is that of the parents of Thomas D'Arcy McGee, the Irishman who became minister of agriculture and president of the Executive Council in Canada. Ms Dawn Morley, the co-ordinator of an adjoining heritage centre, said the mainly voluntary staff at the centre were "sick and tired" of having to clean up the graveyard after drinking parties.

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The youths enter the graveyard by climbing over the wall at the back of the abbey.

"A lot of under-age drinking is going on here and gangs of youths are hanging out in the graveyard every night. Every morning we come here and have to clean up dozens of cans. We fear that it is going to get even worse now that the summer is coming in and the weather will be better," Ms Morley said.

She added that it was common for staff to find used condoms scattered on the cemetery grounds. She also alleges that drugs are being taken by the teenagers.

Selskar Abbey and its graveyard are one of the highlights on Wexford Tourism's walking tour of the town.

Local tour guide Mr John Bayley said when he brings tourists into the graveyard he has to apologise about the vandalism.

"The first thing they ask is why the graveyard is vandalised. It is hard to know what to say to them. It certainly does not give a good impression of Wexford town," Mr Bayley said.

As well as the graveyard, the ruins of Selskar Abbey are also being targeted by vandals. Bricks have been taken out of the abbey structure, which dates back to around 1216.

Bars that were placed on a gate at the 14th-century tower in the abbey have sometimes been sawn off.